On the morning of 8 March 1995 at approximately 9:00, Joao de Barros, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Correio da Guine-Bissau”, was beaten and arrested at the Bissau airport as he was waiting to board a plane to Cape Verde. Police officers detained Joao de Barros, claiming he did not have permission to leave the country. […]
On the morning of 8 March 1995 at approximately 9:00, Joao de
Barros, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Correio da Guine-Bissau”,
was beaten and arrested at the Bissau airport as he was waiting
to board a plane to Cape Verde. Police officers detained Joao de
Barros, claiming he did not have permission to leave the country.
The officers presented no written documentation to this effect,
however. The journalist was taken to the police post in the
airport, where he was violently beaten and held for the day. He
was released at approximately 20:00, when the chief of police
intervened and escorted him home.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the government of Guinea-Bissau:
de Barros
practice his profession unhindered
Appeals To
President Joao Bernardo Vieira
Office of the President
Praca dos Herois Nacionais
Bissa, Republica da Guine-Bissau
Fax: +245 20 14 04
or c/o the Guinea-Bissau diplomatic representative in your
country
Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau in France: fax + 33 1 42 81 24 90
Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau in Canada: fax + 1 514 288 7389
